The continuing saga of the South Philly sandwich shop and the Phila. Commission on Human Relations

[Lobster Martini]

(edited for copyright purposes-proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)


(LM: Posting a sign at your sandwich shop stating "This is America. When ordering, please speak English" may not be particularly tactful, but realistically, how many languages is a guy who makes steak sandwiches in South Philadelphia supposed to speak? Part of the neighborhood is Irish, part is Italian, part is Asian…incidentally, cheese steak in Irish Gaelic is cáis stéig. I don’t expect Geno’s Steaks to know that.)

Vento: No barrier, just a view on English

"This is a melting pot, that's correct. But what makes it work is knowing . . . English," cheesesteak impresario Joey Vento told the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, which held a hearing yesterday on whether signs Vento posted at his South Philadelphia shop - advising patrons to "please speak English" - are illegal under the city's ordinance against unfair discrimination.

Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks, said his restaurant serves more than 600,000 steak sandwiches a year and never refused service based on a patron's national origin.

The signs - which say "This is America. When ordering, please speak English" - serve two purposes, he said: to express his First Amendment-protected opinion about immigration; and to encourage faster ordering at the neon-splashed shop, where the line is sometimes 50 customers deep.

A multimillionaire who began in 1966 with just $6, Vento scoffed at the idea that the intent of the signs is to make certain people feel unwelcome.

"You think I'm stupid? You think I built a successful business by refusing service?" he testified.


(Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_top_stories/20071215_Vento__No_barrier__just_a_view_on_English.html)

[sniffa]

1. Vento's such a dickhead

he keeps popping up in the news for his antics. and doesn't he still sell Freedom Fries? or like Bill O'Reilly, did he drop his idiotic France boycott? :eyes:

[Lobster Martini]

3. Good grief, I don't know. I'll walk over and find out . (n/t)

[sniffa]

5. thanks

let us know

[notadmblnd]

2. You know, I was in Philadelphia recently and I wanted to try an authentic cheesesteak

It was a little shop somewhere around 12th and Walnut. I didn't even think to look this guys shop up and check it out. But anyway, I had pictured in my mind a sandwich with cheese, steak onions and green peppers. I get my sandwich and take the first bite, I was horrified to see that ketchup and been slathered all over the thing. It totally ruined it for me as I'm not a fan of ketchup. Is that the norm? Do all authentic Philly cheesesteaks come slathered in Ketchup?

[Lobster Martini]

4. NO! The best cheese steaks are on South Street...

Green peppers? Heavens, no, and on behalf of all Philadelphians, I apologize for the ketchup.

[Squatch]

7. Negatory...the best cheesesteaks are in Wildwood, NJ

at a place called the A&LP.

[tom_paine]

18. No way, man...the best cheesteaks are at...

...wherever anyone thinks the best cheesteaks are at.

De gutsabus non disputatum est.

(in matter of taste there is no dispute)

[tom_paine]

17. No way. You got ripped off, notadmblnd.

Unfortunately, getting ripped off is as Philly as cheesesteaks, too.

Cheesteaks should have home-made Italian Tomato Sauce on them, not effing ketchup!

:puke:

[Squatch]

6. "It was embarrassing to me as a Philadelphian, and humiliating to me as a Latino,"

Then DON'T SHOP THERE, you fucking genius.

[riverdeep]

8. Man, I can see the lawyers lined up for this one.

And they'd be the only ones who'd win. If you don't like an establishment, for any reason, don't go there. If I walk into a biker bar I'm going to feel discriminated against (right before I feel a pool cue to against my head), so I don't go in there. They don't even need a sign. It's not like he's the only doctor in a small town, providing an essential service.

[MH1]

9. If all he cared about was for his counter people to understand the customer's order

he could have posted something more like, "Please order in English so we may serve you better" or something like that.

If he didn't mean to be offensive with the words he used, then he needs to a) wake up and b) change the sign.

That said, I'm not sure this one instance should get all the official attention that it is. (I'll admit I haven't thoroughly studied the case). I do think that minority organizations are justified in boycotting his store, and his competitors are justified in posting things like "ALL customers welcome here!"

[Wilber_Stool]

10. Did it ever occur to anyone that

if you can't speak English, you probably can't read English? Just who is the sign for?

[MH1]

11. Whether or not one "speaks" or "reads" a particular language is not binary. n/t

[TahitiNut]

14. I'm FAR from fluent in French, but if I saw "Parler Français!!" I'd sure as hell understand.

Indeed, I regard that as a rule when in France and sure as hell don't need a sign to do my best to follow that rule. I can't even begin to count the number of Ugly Americans who think that speaking English LOUDER is how to tour Europe - assholes who can't be bothered to even buy a Berlitz book, let alone read and practice.

Well, the "Ugly American" syndrome isn't limited to Americans. :shrug:



On edit: Demonstrating that I'm FAR from fluent, I corrected the French imperative. :eyes:

[devilgrrl]

12. I'd like to go there and order in Italian

Testa di cazzo!

[MH1]

13. Another perspective, with pictures of the sign and surrounding, er, decorations.

http://wwwwsonneteighteencom.blogspot.com/2007/10/blowhards-in-philly.html

I just googled this because I wanted to see what the sign actually looked like. See for yourself. Note the sign directly below it.

[riverdeep]

19. Oh yeah, the guy's a douche.

From the above link:



Notice the 'speak English tee shirts, $10.



This guy is like a parody of every boorish American tendency imaginable. No surprise he supports Giuliani.

Still, don't go in. That simple. This just gets him more pub.

[MH1]

20. I agree.

I think a quiet boycott would have been the right response in this case. The competitor across the street (Pat's) would have been happy for the business, I'm sure.

If the whole street got together and organized to refuse to serve part of the community, that would be a different story. But in a single case I think it's a shop owner's right to be a jerk.

[MH1]

15. BWA.HA.HA. Check out the menu - "Freedom Fries."

http://www.genosteaks.com/ourmenu.html

Does anyone need to know any more?

[prole_for_peace]

21. what happens if you order "french fries"? n/t

[NoodleyAppendage]

16. He has a point about the social cohesiveness aspect of a common language.

One of the reasons why tribalism and balkanization has wrought so much pain and strife is the distinguishing languages that reduce the ability to communicate across social barriers. When cultural or socioeconomic differences exist it is a useful solution to have everyone communicate through a common language.

That being said, I think this Vento guy is going about making the point above in a wrong way. A better tact would be to show those who do not speak English the benefit, both socially and economically, of doing so.

J